@ease was founded in 2018 as a place where young people can walk in for a free conversation. A research consortium from Maastricht University studied our visitors and our approach. Their conclusion: an organisation like @ease is not only needed in the Netherlands, but also entirely possible.
Most mental health challenges start before the age of 25. Still, many young people don’t get help until much later. Shame, lack of awareness, or the sharp divide between youth and adult care often get in the way.
This problem isn’t unique to the Netherlands. All over the world, new initiatives are being developed to reach young people faster and more effectively. In Australia there’s headspace, in Ireland Jigsaw, and in Canada Foundry. Since 2018, @ease has proudly joined that list.
About @ease
@ease was created to offer young people a low-threshold space. Anyone aged 12 to 25 can drop by for free and anonymous support, no referral or appointment needed. What makes it special? You talk to someone your own age. Our peer counsellors are trained volunteers between 18 and 30, many of whom know from experience what it’s like to struggle. Professionals are always available in the background.
How was the research done?
The researchers used data from the first 291 young people who visited an @ease location between January 2018 and July 2020.
- After their conversation, all visitors could complete a short, anonymous questionnaire.
- The peer counselors also completed a section themselves, for example, about their social functioning and whether they were experiencing suicidal thoughts.
- Er werd gekeken naar demografische kenmerken (leeftijd, opleiding, woonsituatie), redenen voor het bezoek, en psychische gezondheid (stress, functioneren, kwaliteit van leven, suïcidaliteit).
This created a clear picture of who the visitors were and what their problems and wishes were.
Who are the visitors of @ease?
The average visitor was 21 years old. Two-thirds of visitors were female.
Course
- Three quarters followed a training course
- More than half of them attended university
- One fifth attended college and almost one fifth attended secondary school
Living and background
- A quarter lived alone, a third lived with parents, and a third lived with friends or a partner.
- One young person was homeless and several young people were staying temporarily in a shelter or with friends.
- A third indicated that their parents had mental health problems. This makes these young people particularly vulnerable.
Diversity
Visitors came from all over the world. Maastricht was especially international, with many international students.
What did young people want to discuss?
The main reason for coming in was wanting to talk about feelings. Three-quarters mentioned this.
In addition, young people came for:
- Problems in relationships (22%)
- Concerns about school or studies (22%)
- Advice or practical help (27% and 19%)
A small group had questions about substance use, physical complaints or sexuality.
Strikingly, two-thirds of the young people came of their own accord. Others were encouraged by friends, family, or a teacher.
How vulnerable were the visitors?
The questionnaires showed that most young people were dealing with serious mental health problems.
- Stress and complaints: almost everyone scored above the clinical threshold for mental health issues. This means professional help is needed.
- Quality of life: 75% had moderate to severe problems with anxiety and depression. Almost half had difficulty with daily activities.
- School absences: 45% had missed classes in the past three months, an average of 7.6 days.
- Suicidality: 28% had suicidal thoughts. 12% had concrete plans.
However, less than a third had received help from mental health or another care provider in the three months before their visit.
This shows that @ease reaches a group that is often overlooked by regular healthcare providers.
Satisfaction and first effects
Young people highly rated their visit. They gave an average score of 4.4 out of 5 for the consultation and 4.7 out of 5 for the waiting time.
After their visit, young people indicated what they were going to do next:
- 14% made an appointment with the GP
- 17% wanted to see a psychologist
- 33% chose another step, such as the student psychologist or going back to @ease
- 37% thought the conversation was sufficient for that moment
For many young people, @ease was either a first step towards other help or a place where one conversation already provided relief.
Differences between Maastricht and Amsterdam
The study compared the first two @ease locations: Maastricht and Amsterdam.
- Many visitors to Maastricht were international students. More than half were not born in the Netherlands.
- In Amsterdam, the majority were born in the Netherlands.
There were few differences in terms of age, complaints, and satisfaction. Young people mainly shared similar concerns: feelings, relationships, and school.
What do we learn from this?
This research shows three things:
- There is a great need for easily accessible support. Many young people experience serious complaints but have not had any other help.
- @ease reaches diverse groups. Students, young people living alone, and young people whose parents have mental health issues are often at particular risk.
- Young people appreciate contact. They feel taken seriously and can more quickly find their way to further support.
Opportunities and challenges
The results are promising, but there are also points for attention.
- Most visitors were students. It’s important that @ease also reaches vulnerable young people who aren’t studying.
- A third of the visitors had parents with mental health issues. This group needs extra support.
- The number of @ease drop-in living rooms is growing. Maintaining the quality and youth-friendly atmosphere everywhere is a challenge.
That’s why it remains important to involve young people themselves. They provide tips and feedback, for example, through the Youth Council, so that @ease continues to connect well with their world.
Conclusion
Research into the first 2.5 years of @ease shows that this approach is not only needed in the Netherlands, but also doable. Young people with serious concerns are finding their way to a place where they can get help, free, anonymous and without barriers. They feel heard and valued. For many, it’s the first step toward further support.
Curious about all the results?
You can read the full scientific article here titled “Who is @ease? Visitors’ characteristics and working method of professionally supported peer-to-peer youth walk-in centres, anonymous and free of charge”. The study was published in 2022
Do you have questions about our scientific research? Feel free to contact us; we’d be happy to tell you more.